Public Enemy Prepare for Their Fight Against the Power -- Picture Book

Each week, in Picture Book, we present an iconic photo from rock 'n' roll's past or present, accompanied with insightful commentary. Whether it's a famous picture or an unearthed rarity, these striking images will serve to illustrate the visual side of music.

Public Enemy, New York City, Sept. 14, 1988

Members of Public Enemy -- Chuck D, Flavor Flav and Terminator X -- pose behind a guard of black-power salutes five months after the release of their groundbreaking album 'It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.' The album was a landmark record for not only its fusion of hip-hop, punk, and funk but also for its politically charged lyrics and its call for greater black awareness.

Sometimes called "The Black Panthers of Rap," Public Enemy were known for their militant stance. But leader Chuck D's message was simple: The black community needs to know more about its history to create a better future. Two days before this photo was taken, he told a crowd in Miami, "Never again shall the black man's culture be stripped away from us."